American Airlines passenger booted off two flights for refusing to wear mask

American Airlines says the passenger was rebooked onto another service, from which he was again ejected. Photo / Unsplash

The day after American Airlines announced that face coverings would be mandatory for all passengers, the US carrier has shown that it is committed to the controversial public health measure.

Passenger Brandon Straka, 43, was denied board on the service between New York and Dallas on Wednesday for refusing to wear a face mask.

Straka, a social media pundit with a 400,000-strong following, was quick to air his grievances on twitter. "1st Time this has happened. Not federal law," he wrote in protest from New York's La Guardia Airport. "When I pointed out this wasn't a law I was removed."

A spokesperson for the airline said Straka had been wearing a mask when he boarded Flight 1263, as required, but shortly after finding his seat he took it off again. Flight crew, the captain and a customer service representative all asked the passenger to wear the mask before takeoff. However, he refused to comply.

I was just removed from my flight for not wearing a mask. 1st time this has happened. Not a federal law. @AmericanAir staff standing over me telling me it’s THE LAW. So much for “please respect those who can not wear a mask”. When I pointed out this wasn’t a law I was removed.

— Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) June 17, 2020

American Airlines said Straka was asked five times in all, before being deplaned.
The Boeing 737 service to Dallas then departed without Straka, four minutes behind schedule.

Straka, a former hairdresser turned conservative commentator, proceeded to make his case online for not wearing a mask.

"They're currently trying to rebook me. They told me I MUST wear a mask on my next flight. STILL nobody has asked if there's a reason why I can't," he wrote.

They’re currently trying to rebook me. They told me I MUST wear a mask on my next flight. STILL nobody has asked if there’s a reason why I can’t.
AFTER kicked me off, manager says “they made a mistake. shouldn’t have done that”

— Brandon Straka (@BrandonStraka) June 17, 2020

Straka said it was the airline's "mistake" for deplaning him and that they were wrong to tell him it was a legal requirement to wear the face covering.

In a video recording, shared via the Periscope app, Straka claimed he was intimidated into leaving the plane and was never asked if there was a medical reason why he could not comply with the requirement. However, this claim was later disproven.

A journalist who was flying on the same service recorded the incident, in which he was clearly asked if he had a doctor's note.

Astead Herndon, a reporter for the New York Times and CNN, shared audio from the cabin in which staff could be heard telling Straka that: if he had a medical condition he "wouldn't have had to wear his mask for check in."

pic.twitter.com/Rloh34F5ID

— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) June 17, 2020

In the audio, a woman can be overhead shouting: "Sir, can you put it on or get off?"

"Brandon Straka declined to wear a face covering," the American Airlines said in a statement. "After he refused to comply with the instructions provided by the flight crew, our team members asked him to deplane.

"Mr. Straka stated to our airport team members that he would comply with our policies, and was rebooked on a later flight."

The airline offered to reroute the passenger onto a later service but was refused board, after again removing his mask.